OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14240436
OXYGEN DEFICIENCY,ASPHYXIATED,SHIPYARD,CONFINED SPACE,WORK RULES,INHALATION,SCBA,TANK
Event description
Employee dies of asphyxia in oxygen deficient tank
Investigation abstract
Employee #1 and his supervisor, both members of a labor union, were working with atmosphere having been tested to ensure that the space contained at least 16.5 percent oxygen. two members of a boilermakers union. The boilermakers had been assigned to open tank tops and the laborers were to sound the tanks to determine what and how mu ch they contained. Employee #1 was told by his supervisor to sound the lower bli ster tank, #B-80-1-V, on the port side of the battleship Texas. Because the lowe r blister tank is shaped like a banana, the tank gauge cannot reach the bottom, so Employee #1 had to enter the compartment to get a sounding. While attempting to secure a reading, Employee #1 died of asphyxia. Employee #1 had been allowed to enter the tank, which had been sealed for approximately 40 years, without the
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 36 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 4
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Task assigned
- 1
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